This is another great "before and after" landscaping project. This Leslieville backyard was originally sloped up to the back fence, and wasn't the most functional space. A large tree in the corner of the property made it difficult for sod to thrive, resulting in a rather mucky mess. For this project we excavated out the slope of the yard, and levelled an area for a natural stone patio. We cleaned up and edged in the gardens, and installed a retaining wall with steps leading up to the back laneway.

We installed up lights in all three garden beds to illuminate the tree and larger shrubs, which gives the project more depth and a lovely atmosphere when viewed at night from the kitchen window. We also installed drip irrigation to the garden beds, and step lights on the deck, although you can't see them in the photos below.

CHALLENGES:While it was a fairly straight forward project, our main challenge was the limited access we had to the back yard. The project required the removal of almost 40 cu. yards of excavation to get the yard to the grade we needed for our base. As is typical with many Leslieville properties our access down the side of the house was very narrow (31"), considering the amount of fill we had to remove we knew this would be a big challenge. To assist us and keep things moving swiftly on site, we brought in a Cormidi Mini Track Dumper which we used to fill a bin in the front yard (photos in slideshow below).

Alright, winter is here, so we finally have time to share some of the projects we worked on over the 2015 season. Starting from the beginning: we kicked off our 2015 season with this very fun little project! This design involved an interlocking stone patio, two custom cedar privacy screens, and the recovering of the existing deck & steps. We also built a new fence along the south side of the property which is shared with the neighbour, along with a couple matching gates to tie it all together.

We also ran electricity to the back of the property, and added gas lines around the perimeter of the project for future upgrades to lanterns and a fire table. We installed a simple drip irrigation system in each of the planter beds. We also installed low voltage lighting under the trees, on the privacy screen and embedded in the steps for ambient light and a perfect ambience in the evenings. For an added upgrade, the shed was painted and re-shingled to match the modern look of the project.(Scroll down to see the slideshow of the full completed project)

This was a fun little job we did last April, that shows the the difference a nice new fence and a bit of sod can make. Aside for the obvious privacy benefits you get from a fence, they are also great for defining property lines and giving a clean backdrop which can make a yard look much larger and cleaner.

For this project our client was looking for a clean and simple fence design. They had recently purchased the house and wanted to make the backyard more aesthetic and functional. We ripped out the overgrown gardens to give them a fresh start, and reshaped them to a more uniform look. The yard was covered in 'Pea' stone (I will do another post in the future explaining why 'Pea' stone is an awful ground cover) which we replaced with some fresh sod.

The deck was in pretty good shape, just it had a slightly awkward design flaw, which we fixed by squaring it off, and building a more functional, larger staircase off the center of the deck to give better access to the yard and maximize its usable space above. We then removed the privacy lattice on the sides and continued our fence boards right to the house to tie everything together. Thanks to Sara for passing along these photos.

This was a really enjoyable project we completed last August, and a great example of how with a little planning you can create an entirely new space for the whole family to enjoy. Its a small property, but one with lots of potential; the homeowners were looking to make their outdoor space more functional and welcoming. They wanted to create a space that their kids could enjoy which also required minimal maintainance.

Enter the LITTLE Landscapes crew!

The completed project.

Synthetic turf play area.

New (and much safer) steps to the basement using Unilock Pisa II retaining wall blocks.

Front walkway and gardens.

With a stunning design that was created by Sylvie De Brabandere, and a modern grey colour scheme created using Unilock Umbriano stones in Midnight Sky and Winter Marvel we were able to create an inviting, eye catching space that makes you excited to be outdoors with family & friends.

MODERN COLOURS & ACCENT TEXTURESWe kept the palette clean and sleek with tones ranging from dark slate to light grey, and tied it all together with easy-to-maintain hostas from the client's previous gardens. The seat walls are made out of Unilock's new Rivercreast wall system, and are topped with Banas Kota Black coping stones. This feature offers extra seating when entertaining or relaxing with the kids in the summer, and separates the two areas beautifully. To take you up to the back patio area, we tied it all together with a stunning Banas Kota natural stone step which compliments the colours of the design and keeps the overall look clean & modern.

SYNTHETIC TURF - THE MINI LAWN ALTERNATIVEOne of the elements this couple was excited about was the addition of a section of synthetic turf. This is a high quality, very natural looking product that offers comfort for tiny feet as well as the added bonus of a zero maintenance lawn. No more worrying about watering the grass-patch or having to cut the lawn. Since this is the only "grass" on the property it was a perfect way to cut down on maintenance while leaving all the added function of a green space.

LIGHT UP YOUR SPACE - THE FINISHING TOUCHAnother stunning feature of this job was the addition of carefully placed lighting fixtures. Outdoor lighting is a detail that not only adds safety and visablity to your space but also an element of elegance. Here we inserted lights from InLite into the new deck steps, and on the edges of the Natural Stone Step in the backyard. You'll notice that we've also added accent lighting in the front yard and in the garden areas as well. The extra hint of light in the evenings offers both functionality and beauty.